We mark our 20th Anniversary this week

10 February 2014

The Alliance will be marking its 20th anniversary this week with a three-day convention in Brighton, UK. The theme of the event is Together To End AIDS.

Some 80 delegates from all round the world will be coming together this week to reflect on the global HIV epidemic to date and the action still needed to accelerate efforts to end AIDS once and for all.

Notable speakers include:

Senegal’s Minister for Health, Professor Awa Marie Coll-Seck;

Dr Professor Peter Piot, Director and Professor of Global Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine;

Dr Mark Dybul who heads up The Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Jeff O’Malley, UNICEF Director, Division of Policy and Strategy and the founding Executive Director of the Alliance will also be joining the event (via a live web link from New York).

Senior representatives from the Alliance’s 40 Linking Organisations will be in attendance at the Convention, along with key donors, partners.

According to the Alliance’s Executive Director, Alvaro Bermejo: “The convention marks an important point in our journey to tackle the HIV epidemic which has been with us for thirty years now. There have been a number of scientific breakthroughs in recent years and we possess the medical knowhow to end AIDS but we still need to see greater political commitment and funding if we are really to reach the tipping point.

“I’m proud to represent the Alliance in its 20th year and am thrilled that so many of our partners from overseas will be able to join us for this very special occasion. It’s thanks to them that we have managed to make headway in combating HIV, however there’s still a long road ahead.”

In 1994, the Alliance established its first HIV prevention, treatment, care and support programmes in Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Senegal. The organization now works in partnership with national civil society organizations in 40 countries across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Throughout its history, the Alliance has supported millions of people living with and most affected by HIV. In 2012 the charity reached more than 4.7 million people, including nearly a million with sexual and reproductive health services.

The convention kicks off with a parliamentary reception at the House of Lords, hosted by one of the Alliance’s staunchest supporters, former Health Secretary Lord Fowler.